Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1887-11-24

Dclorc lhls ciiail-c Ca'i'' "h" WV"
aftcrward. there was exercised among
the Romans complete tyranny by tho
head of the family over his relations
which were members of his family.
As head of the family, the oldest
male was always the head; he had
power not only over his relatives. but
all persons connected with his house,
hold and his childrcn's households.
While the father lived his son was sub
jcct to him, although the son might be
forty years old and have u large family
of his own. The grandchildren were
subject to the grandfather the same rs
their own father
The family was then regarded much
as we now regard the individual. If n
member committed crime the whole
family was held responsible. and it was
perfectly lawful for the injured family
To get revenge or satisfaction. even II
il were necessary to cytcrminate the
whole offending family. This was
carried 10 such IN extent that whole
families were destroyed.
The blood fcud. and il was well
named. descending from father to son.
Ii was 10 the Roman, in effect. what
the Inherited curse was TO the Greek.
The feud was kept up not so much for
the sake of punishment rs to prevent
the supposed liability of the offending
family to commit fresh ollcnscs. With
al their peculiar customs in regard to
the family, it must be said to their
credit that they never TO any extont
practiccd polygamy.
If the Romans did not countenancc
polygamy the Hebrews did. and they
had moro peculiar custom. There
was 4 law among them called the
Lcviratc. which means brothcr-in-law.
and according TO this law, at the death
of the husband. the next oldest m-
married bro,lcr-n-law of the widow
married her If there were no chill
drcn.
In this way the wife of the eldest
brother might, in the course OF time,
have been the wife of all the brothers.
This custom aftcrward extended to
many of the Western nations, but the
marriage took place whether there
were any children or not.
There was another kind of marriage
called polygnia. and. like the Lcviritc.
it extended to the Western countries.
This, however, did not gain much foot
hold among the Hebrews. PolySnia
was simply polygamy reversed. Ac-
cording to it. the woman was the head
If the house. and might have rs many
legal husbands at one time rs she
pleased. Her childron bore her name
and recognized her rs head of the
house.
Some of the customs attending n
Hcbraic marriage were peculiar. The
bridegroom dressed himself in the most
gorgeous style he could command.
He next rcrfumed himself with frank
incense and myrrh. Then he went
forth covered with garlands. or. If he
were rich, he would wear u circlet of
gold and ride a gaily-caprisoned horse.
He was attended to the brides house
BY his groomsmcn. musicians, singers
and torch bearers.
The marriage was always celebrated
at night, aud the bridesmaids were
provided with lamps to meet the
bridegroom when he came. On his
arrival he found the bride. bridesmaids
and company awaiting him. As soon
rs the actual ceremony was over the
entire company returned to the BRIDE
groom's house with great rejoicing.
When they reached the house they par
took of the wedding feast. The fes-
tivitics usually lasted during fourteen
days. The groom not only furnished
The feast, but the robes of those who
took part in the ceremony.
Pioneer marriages in this country.
not u century ago. had some rcscm-
blancc to Hebrew wedding. In those
days the marriage was the cause Of
great excitement. and the whole neigh
borhood was usually invited.
As the houses of the bride and groom
were generally far apart tho groom
started early in the morning on horse
rs highly caparisoncd as the times
would allow. He was attended by his
groomsmcn. The marriage generally
took place before noon. to enable tho
whole party to return to the groom's
home before dark. The home journey
was not always without incident If
any persons were not invited to AT.
tend, they were not at all backward
about Telling trees in the road. piling
up all kinds of hindranccs and firing
off guns to scare the horses. Severe
injuries were thus frequently caused.
but bravely borne. When tho party
were within few miles of the house a
bottle race was arranged.